By Canadian Press

Trudeau says more compassionate approach to COVID-19 border restrictions is needed

Oct 2, 2020 | 10:20 AM

OTTAWA — The federal government is poised to loosen restrictions on who can come into Canada.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the government has listened to heartbreaking stories of families being kept apart and realizes there must be some compassion.

A trio of federal ministers are set to unveil new exemptions to the current restrictions later this afternoon. 

Canada first closed its borders to all but a short list of essential workers in the spring in a bid to slow the spread of COVID-19.

While some family members of citizens or permanent residents have since been allowed into the country, many others are not on the list of approved travellers.

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But Trudeau says foreign visitors make up a tiny fraction of the current COVID-19 caseload, and the more that is learned about how to best prevent further spread, the more the government is able to adjust restrictions. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published October 2, 2020.

The Canadian Press